Programming Committee

Alison Heiser is founder and CEO of Alison Heiser Associates, and a sought-after advisor on growth strategy and business model innovation. She is a former Chief Customer Officer and head of marketing for some of the world’s leading organizations, and an expert on marketing, brand building and customer-focused digital transformation strategies.

Alison is highly respected for her collaborative skills and ability to challenge the status quo with grace and humor. Her talent for navigating difficult conversations and building alignment with diverse teams is one of the key strengths she brings to the boardroom. Her book FrameShifting: unleashing the power of frameworks to fuel collaboration and solve tough problems, earned a 2022 Nautilus Book Award.

In her routine 1:1s with CEOs and advising sessions with senior executives, she keeps a pulse on issues facing companies and boards, and has extensive experience with a diverse and ever-evolving range of strategic issues and choices. As an active CEO, Alison brings an entrepreneurial business owner mindset to her work, and is equally conversant with senior leaders in public, private and family businesses.

As head of North American marketing at Michelin, Alison was the highest-ranking woman in the tire industry worldwide. She led the company’s transformation to a consumer-focused enterprise through brand portfolio optimization and introducing CPG marketing practices. On the S&OP leadership team, she championed the elimination of outdated industry practices that contributed to a remarkable turnaround in fill rates and supply chain cost reductions. She delivered $3B in revenue and an all-time market share high, contributing over 50% of global earnings.

Alison currently serves on the advisory board of NAXION, a 100% ESOP owned company in the market research industry. She is also on the advisory board of 37 Oaks, whose clients are predominantly black women business owners in underserved communities.

Her previous board partnerships include sharing strategic initiatives with the boards of Kimberly-Clark and Banta Corporation, and in her corporate officer role she advocated for key non-financial metrics, including brand equity and customer data. She prepared merger presentations for Banta’s board while it navigated a hostile takeover attempt; ultimately accepting an offer from competitor R.R. Donnelly. As a strategy advisor to the CEO of a PE-backed medical products manufacturer, she was instrumental in guiding and aligning management and the board to support a major shift in strategic priorities.

She earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and her B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Alison is Vice President of the Private Directors Association, Wisconsin Chapter and Steering Committee member of Milwaukee Women, Inc. She holds governance certificates from the PDA and also the Women’s Director Development Program at Kellogg.

Alison lives on a tree farm in northern Wisconsin with her husband Jim, an accomplished figurative artist. They enjoy sailing on Lake Michigan and hiking with their rescue dog Nala.

The intersections of Dr. Kelly Ottman’s professional accomplishments, educational history, service experience, and personal mission position her to make a positive difference to the health and success of a corporation.  As an executive, she successfully led complex organizations.  For the past 25 years, her focus has been on developing leaders, often executive teams.  Her multi-disciplinary academic leadership training includes a two-year executive development fellowship.  An understanding of board functions emerges from her serving on various professional, educational and not-for-profit boards, as well as reporting to and consulting for boards.  Dr. Ottman’s knowledge, skills and experiences center on the growth of individuals, teams and organizations.  Key areas of expertise and impact include leadership and team development, mission and value clarification, strategic planning, organizational culture, diversity, equity and inclusion, employee engagement, change management, leadership lifecycle development (including retirement),global mindsets and business in Asia, with specific focal points of China and India. She is also an award-winning educator with university and regional teaching awards. 

CONSULTING EXPERIENCE 

As an independent consultant, Dr. Ottman works with local, national and international executive leaders, management groups and boards of directors from an array of industries and professions. These range from executive steel workers to executive nuns.  She has conducted on-site consultation and education with Asia-Pacific leaders and teams and facilitated strategic planning for businesses and professional organizations.  As an Executive Coach, she assists individuals in the areas of leadership and career development.  She is known for having courageous conversations, based in empathy, to promote effectiveness.  In 2021, she was named by the International Leadership Association as a leadership coach for WE Empower United Nations SGD Challenge and in 2024 she was named the Executive Leadership Coach Coordinator.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

MSOE University, Milwaukee, WI - 2007-present

Professor, Rader School of Business

Teach MBA, Master of Science in Engineering Management, and MBA Educational Leadership and Undergraduate students in the areas of leadership, organizational behavior, management and change. 

Developed the Doing Business with China Program, 2009-2019.  Partner with over 25 corporations and engage over 100 leaders locally and in China.  Signature is Servant Leadership Library Project in rural China.

Conducted research in China with government, state owned and multi-national executive leaders.

Taught at Lubeck University in Germany on the topic of Business with China, 2018.

Mentor faculty at Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education University in India, 2021- present.

Taught MBAs and faculty Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education University in India, 2022.

Serve(d) as Chair of University committees to include University Mission and Values, Faculty Development, Promotions, Faculty Grants, and International Servant Leadership.

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI – 2000-2008

Full-Time Instructor, Lubar School of Business

Taught in undergraduate and graduate programs and the Executive USA and China MBA degree programs. 

Conducted leadership seminars for industry leaders from around the world.

Awarded the University Outstanding Teaching Award for Academic Staff. 

Selected as University Center Scholar for Teaching and Learning.

Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI – 1995-2000

Full-time Lecturer, College of Business Administration

Taught EMBA, MBA and traditional undergraduate leadership and organizational behavior courses.

Design Team and Faculty, College of Professional Studies

Served on design team for the College of Professional Studies.

Taught adult learners leadership, ethics, organizational behavior and team development.

Horizon Home Care and Hospice, Milwaukee WI – 1991-1996

Vice President of Administrative Services

Facilitated health system integration (47% increase in system admissions in one year).

Developed and evaluated programs and services to meet client needs (1,100 total active clients).

Lead state and federal survey processes.

Facilitated multiple reorganization processes.

Lead self-managed teams in multiple hospital settings.

Interacted with Board of Directors.

BOARD EXPERIENCE

Service ON Boards

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast – 2024- present

Board Development

International Leadership Association – 2018-2020

Executive Committee, Leadership Development

FIRST Robotics – Wisconsin Advisory Board – 2011-2015

Executive Board Member and Chair of VIP Events

ALPS (Accelerated Learning Programs) Charter School, Oshkosh School District – 2005 - 2008

President of Board

Oshkosh Lighted School House, Oshkosh WI – 2009 – 2012

Board Member

Team Based Learning Collaborative (International Professional Organization) – 2009-2014

Board Member and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Chair

Wisconsin Visiting Nurses Association Professional Advisory Board – 2001-2008

Board Member

Wisconsin Forward Award – 2001-2003

Board of Examiners

Association of HealthCare Executives – SE Wisconsin – 1989-2001

President, VP, Chair of Education, and Chair of Membership

Wisconsin Bio Ethics Network – 1993-1996

Board Member

National Therapeutic Recreation Society – 1986-1990

Board Member and Chair of Membership

Service TO Boards (select list of clients)

Advised board of directors in mission development, strategic planning, and board roles/functions.

Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence 

Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation

Wisconsin College Admissions Councilor Association

Wisconsin FIRST Robotics and Oshkosh WAVE Robotics

EDUCATION

Ph.D. - Adult Education with an emphasis on Organizational Leadership, University of Wisconsin – Madison

M.P.A./M.A.  -  Public Policy and Administration and Health Service Administration, La Follette Institute of Public Affairs at University of Wisconsin - Madison

B.S. – Therapeutic Recreation, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse

PERSONAL

Dr. Kelly Ottman is a proud mother of two children (24-year-old and 31-year-old) and a grandmother.  She has a passion for exploring different cultures through travel and believes in diversity and inclusion from multiple perspectives (Awarded Friend of Rockwell Automation Asia Pacific in 2015).  She rejuvenates herself through gardening, yoga, camping, kayaking, and hosting gatherings of friends.  Aligned with Servant Leadership, she has been transformed through coordinating/engaging in local and international service projects. Locations have included China, Ghana, Mexico and Vietnam.  For over 25 years she coordinated a Christmas Eve program for the homeless in Milwaukee, WI.